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This case study examines the role of FinScope, a nationally representative survey developed by the FinMark Trust (FMT), in driving financial inclusion in South Africa. It analyzes how the tool filled a critical information gap for policymakers and financial service providers, moving the industry toward evidence-based decision-making and the development of pro-poor financial products.

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth International argues that the global financial losses caused by tax havens are sufficient to fund a total transition to renewable energy in the Global South by 2030, asserting that the primary barrier to an 'Energy Revolution' is political will rather than a lack of funds.

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth International argues that the global revenue lost to tax havens is sufficient to fund a transition to 100% renewable energy for half the world by 2030. It focuses on the financial feasibility of an 'Energy Revolution' in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia, while calling for the dismantling of corporate tax avoidance to fund a just and democratic energy transition.

Nigel Sizer, outgoing director of the World Resources Institute's (WRI) Forests program, reflects on the development of monitoring and restoration initiatives and the increasing role of the private sector in forest conservation prior to his transition to president of the Rainforest Alliance.

The SEI Initiative on Low Emission Development Pathways (LED-P) provides tools and research to help governments, particularly in developing countries, integrate the mitigation of greenhouse gases, air pollution, and short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs). Central to this is the LEAP-Integrated Benefits Calculator (LEAP-IBC), which quantifies the health, agricultural, and climate benefits of specific pollution-reduction measures. The initiative works closely with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to support national action plans in 16 countries and conducts research on the transferability of environmental impacts and the socio-economic barriers to low-emission transitions.

This executive summary introduces a World Resources Report framework for creating more equal, productive, and sustainable cities, focusing specifically on 'struggling' and 'emerging' cities in the Global South. It identifies critical challenges in urban population growth and service delivery, proposing that equitable access to core services—housing, water, energy, and transportation—can serve as a catalyst for broader urban transformation.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines six critical areas of climate finance to monitor during the COP 21 negotiations in Paris. It emphasizes the need for developed countries to meet the $100 billion annual funding goal by 2020, the importance of increasing adaptation funding, and the necessity of transparent reporting and a predictable finance cycle to support developing nations.

This technical annex assesses progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which focuses on strengthening forest governance, transparency, the rule of law, and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs). The report utilizes three primary indicators: the strength of institutions and policies in producer and consumer countries, the prevalence of illegal logging and related violence, and the formal recognition of land and forest rights for IPLCs.

This report, published in November 2015 by Climate Focus and partners, establishes an assessment framework and provides an initial progress report on the ten goals of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF). It evaluates the status of global efforts to halt natural forest loss, restore degraded lands, and improve forest governance one year after the NYDF's September 2014 signing.

A statement from the Center for International Environmental Law and other civil society organizations urging the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to adopt a robust accountability framework, including an independent Oversight Mechanism and clear requirements for Operational-Level Grievance Mechanisms, to ensure the protection of marginalized communities and the environment.

This report details the outcomes of the First Learning Workshop for Phase II of the CDKN-ICLEI sub-national learning programme, held in Quito, Ecuador, from 27 to 31 July 2015. The workshop aimed to transition sub-national climate compatible development (CCD) from planning to implementation by facilitating peer-to-peer exchange among 51 participants representing 16 projects across Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Key activities included regional meetings to identify enabling factors for CCD, site visits in Quito, and the identification of knowledge gaps to inform the development of project-specific 'Inside Stories'.

This research paper analyzes the impact of currency risk on infrastructure projects in developing markets, arguing that hard currency loans from International Financing Institutions (IFIs) create dangerous asset-liability mismatches. The authors propose that IFIs shift their strategy from direct lending to developing local capital markets and providing credit guarantees. This approach aims to leverage private commercial capital and reduce the financial burden on host governments and end-users.

This report by Dalberg Global Development Advisors, commissioned by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), evaluates the resource mobilisation strategies and sustainability of National Climate Change Funds (NCCFs). It defines NCCFs as national-level entities that collect and channel climate finance to mitigation and adaptation projects. The report identifies significant funding gaps in developing countries, analyzes the performance of 13 operational NCCFs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and provides a best-practice handbook for NCCFs to define their vision, build institutional capacity, and engage investors.

This policy brief, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in July 2015, examines the relationship between the ambition level of the 2015 global climate agreement and the ability of countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Based on research by HR Wallingford and Metroeconomica, the brief argues that a high-ambition agreement—limiting global warming to 2°C—is essential for eradicating extreme poverty and ensuring sustainable development, whereas a low-ambition agreement would significantly undermine these goals, particularly in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America.

This commentary by Scott Vaughan, President and CEO of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), discusses the book 'On the Edge: The State and Fate of the World’s Tropical Rainforests' by Claude Martin. The text outlines the scientific history of tropical rainforest research, the primary drivers of deforestation—specifically agriculture and infrastructure—and the progress made through protected areas and remote sensing. It further examines the intersection of forest loss with climate change, carbon emissions, and the risks of species extinction.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) maps trade-related elements within the draft Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Financing for Development (FfD) outcome document. It proposes a three-level architecture for follow-up and review—national, regional, and global—to ensure that trade policies are coherent with sustainable development objectives. The authors argue that because trade's contribution to the post-2015 Agenda is diffuse, a coordinated review process involving existing multilateral and regional mechanisms is essential to facilitate learning and policy improvement.

The report details the design and pilot of the Energy Savings Insurance (ESI) instrument, aimed at stimulating energy efficiency investments for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by mitigating the risk of underperformance. It focuses on a 2015 pilot in Mexico's agro-industry sector and outlines a replication strategy for Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa.

This policy brief, prepared for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), outlines a proposed regional governance architecture for Future Earth. It defines the roles, eligibility criteria, and interactions between National Committees, Regional Committees, and Regional Centres to ensure that global research agendas incorporate regional priorities and stakeholder needs.

This 2015 briefing identifies the personnel from the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) attending the UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan. It details their professional focuses—such as DRR finance, gender equality, and resilience measurement—and lists their scheduled presentations and exhibition activities during the conference.

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth International argues that the financial resources to transition the Global South to 100% renewable energy by 2030 already exist, but are hindered by a lack of political will and extreme global wealth inequality.